Liquid transfer apparatus for use in the washing of containers

ABSTRACT

An apparatus which transfers washing liquid under pressure from a source thereof through pressure-responsive valves of a movable dispensing container in a container washing machine includes holders for the containers, which hold them in inverted position, a plurality of stationary transfer manifolds below the containers, a plurality of connector boxes, preferably with one box per container, between the transfer manifold and the containers, and coupling means, aligned with the valves and communicating with the connector box, the holder, container, couplings and connector box being movable as a unit through the washing machine and being automatically aligned at stations in the machine so that openings in the connector box and transfer manifold are aligned, allowing the passage of pressurized washing liquid or rinse liquid from the transfer manifold through the connector box, couplings and valves into the container, whereby the container and the valves thereof are washed and/or rinsed.

United States Patent Edmunds [4 1 Sept. 23, 1975 LIQUID TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE WASHING OF CONTAINERS Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Raymond F. Kramer [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus which transfers washing liquid under pressure from a source thereof through pressureresponsive valves of a movable dispensing container in a container washing machine includes holders for the containers, which hold them in inverted position, a plurality of stationary transfer manifolds below the containers, a plurality of connector boxes, preferably with one box per container, between the transfer manifold and the containers, and coupling means, aligned with the valves and communicating with the connector box, the holder container, couplings and connector box being movable as a unit through the washing machine and being automatically aligned at stations in the machine so that openings in the connector box and transfer manifold are aligned, allowing the passage of pressurized washing liquid or rinse liquid from the transfer manifold through the connector box, couplings and valves into the container, whereby the container and the valves thereof are washed and/or rinsed.

29 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 10f5 3,907,011

I I 1 1 Ill.

Sheet 2 of 5 Sept. 23,1975

US Patent US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 4 of 5 3,907,011

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 5 of5 3,907,011

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This invention relates to means for transferring washing liquid (or rinsing liquid) from a source thereof into the interiors of containers to be washed in a washing machine. More particularly, it relates to means for transferring liquid from a stationary pressurized supply to a container which is movable through a washing apparatus, and effecting such transfer through a container valve or restricted passageway without excessive loss of pressure before the liquid reaches the valve or passageway. A

Machine washing of dishes, cutlery, bottles, containers, laboratory equipment and manyother items is well known and is well established, usually being superior to hand washing of such items both in thoroughness of cleaning and in economy of operation. Continuous travel washing apparatuses, wherein containers to be cleaned are transported through an enclosure and are subjected to sprays of washing and rinsing liquids during such passage have been successful and drums and barrels have been cleaned by such apparatuses. In most such apparatuses it is only necessary to pass the container, open end facing downwardly, over stationary spray nozzles directed upwardly into the container, whereby the interior thereof is washed; other spray nozzles directed onto the container exterior wash that portion. When cleaning barrel interiors the bung is usually removed and the spray is directed inwardly through the bunghole, with the wash liquid draining from said hole, too. The problem is more complicated when it is attempted to wash containers'having valved openings because it is usually desirable to wash the valve, including the interior thereof, as well as the container interior. In some machines the valves have been opened and the wash liquid has been passed through them to clean them.

The problem of washing valved containers automatically is particularly difficult for those which are meant to contain thick or syrupy materials, which tend to fill valved parts and which are often difficult to remove. When such syrups are used in food or drink or other consumables they should be completely removed from the container and valve parts before the container is refilled, and after removal the valves should usually be sterilized. Pressurized containers for holding and dispensing soft drink syrups are particularly difficult to clean automatically because they contain small pressure-responsive valves which have tobe oriented with opening devices and liquid supply means and have to be washed both externally and internally. If such valves are opened by unaligned or poorly aligned probes they can be damaged and-sprays directed into them might not do sufficient cleaning. Accordingly, the present invention has been made and is of an apparatus for automatically washing such and similar containerswhich allows the transfer of washing liquid under pressure into the container interior through the valves thereof while maintaining sufficient forces against the valves; coupled with pressure on them, so as to open'them, thereby allowing the washing liquid to pass through the valve parts into the container interior. This is effected despite the need for repeatedly making oriented connections between an intermittently moving container (and communicating attachments thereon) and a stationary means for supplying washing fluid. By stationary is meant that the means, such as a transfer manifold, is substantially non-moving, although it may be slightly tiltable to promote sealing of liquid passageways. i

I In accordance with the present invention an apparatus for transferring pressurized liquid from a source thereof to the interior of a movable container in a container washing apparatus through an opening in such container comprises a stationary transfer manifold and a connector box, the transfer manifold communicating with the source of liquid and having an opening therein for passing liquid from it through the connector box to a container being washed, said connector box having an opening therein matchable with and holdable against the opening in the transfer manifold when the container is stationary, and means for communicating the connector box with an opening in the container to force liquid through said opening. In preferred embodiments'of the invention the container being washed is of the type employed by a major soft drink syrup manufacturer, commonly known as a figal, which includes a pair of pressure responsive valves and a sealable substantially centrally located larger opening for filling and discharging the container. Preferably also, the apparatus includes means for holding the container in inverted position, oriented so as to be matchable with coupling communicating means attached to the connector box, with the container, holder, connector box and coupling means moving intermittently as a unit through the washing apparatus into repeated stationary communications with different openings in a transfer manifold and with o ther openings in different transfer manifolds, some of the manifolds containing wash water under pressure and others containing rinse water.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for cleaning the interiors of valved passageways or other small or intricate passageways in containers during washing of the, container. it is also an object of this invention to effect such washing, rinsing and related operations automatically. A further object is to provide means for orienting the container to be washed so that valve means thereon or openings therein are connected to stationary liquid supply means with the maintenance of pressure being sufficient to allow the liquid to pass through the valved or otherwise restricted opening. Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of transfer boxes for different washing and/or rinsing liquids, with openings in them to be aligned with openings in connector boxes which communicate with container valves or openings so that as containers are moved through the washing apparatus liquid will be fed into themwith little loss of pressure, other than due to the container restrictions. Additional aims of the invention include the provision of means for orienting the container with respect to the washing apparatus, means for positioning it with respect to the connector box, couplings and a holder and means for maintaining the container, holder, connector box and couplings as a unit during their passage through the washing apparatus. A further aim is to have selfaligning slightly tiltable transfer manifolds and connector boxes to minimize liquid leakage. Another aim of the invention is to provide a trouble-free, hydraulically operated moving means for the containers which moves them along an endless path from loading to discharge, along which path they are pre-rinsed, washed rinsed and dried automatically.

Other objects of the invention and various advan tages thereof will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the interior of the washing apparatus, showing a tank in position with valves thereof connected to the liquid supply and also illustrating the liquid transfer apparatus without the tank in place;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the holder and associated washer parts, with portions thereof removed to show the connector box and the couplings thereon;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional side elevational view along plane 33 of FIG. 2, showing the bottom portion of a valved container in position at a washing station of the washing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned end elevational view along plane 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the washing apparatus, showing means for orienting, loading and discharging the containers and illustrating the continuous path followed by them during the washing operations. To better illustrate part of the top is removed.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a 5 gallon beverage premix tank or soft drink syrup container 11 in inverted position with the pressure-openable valves thereof (at the normal top of the container) in position atop communicating means or couplings. Only one such coupling 13 is visible under the tank but other couplings 15 and 17 show in the next position to which the tank, couplings and associated parts, including yoke or holder 19, supporting frame 21, including side and top angles or portions 23 and 25, base plate 27 and connector box 29 are to be moved. The container includes an upper hard rubber, metal or plastic portion 12, by which are located the pressure-responsive valves and a sealable substantially centrally located filling and discharging opening, not shown, plus a lower tubular metal section 14, preferably of stainless steel. Below connector boxes 29, 31 and 33 is a transfer manifold 35 through which washing liquid enters via piping 37 from header 39. The transfer manifold is mounted on holders at both ends one of which 16, is visible, and pins, e.g., l8 allow slight forward and backward pivoting to assist aligning with the pivotable connector boxes. Flexible connections such as that at 40 are used to allow slight tilting.

Atop the transfer manifold are sealing means 41, preferably slabs or plates of synthetic organic plastic, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, each having a passageway therein (not shown in FIG. 1) through which washing fluid may pass from the transfer manifold to the connector boxes and thence through the couplings to the container through the valves thereof. As illustrated, a pair of grooves 43 and 45 are in the top of the sealing means on either side of the central connecting opening to act as pressure release means in the event that the uid flows and the container valves are maintained open and are continually contacted with liquid while in stationary position at the washing station illustrated.

The exteriors of the containers are washed or otherwise contacted with liquid by spraying liquid onto them through nozzles such as those represented by numerals 47 and 49 in pipes 51 and 53, respectively. Similar piping, not illustrated. is located below the various stations and liquid is sprayed upwardly through nozzles, not illustrated, through bottom openings in the base plates such as that represented by numeral 55 and into the central bottom opening (normally a top opening) of the syrup container. The liquid sprayed into the container through the valves and through the central opening drains from it through such central opening and falls into a sump or collecting reservoir, not specifically illustrated, from which it is normally recycled. Heaters or other temperature regulating means, not illustrated, may be included in the apparatus to regulate the temperature of the washing and/or rinsing waters and detergent concentrations are controlled.

After completion of the operation at the particular station where the container is shown in FIG. 1, the unit comprising holding means, tank, couplings, holder, base plate and connector box, is automatically advanced to the next position, where couplers 15 and 17 are now shown. Those couplers and attendant structure simultaneously also move one station to the left. This operation is repeated until washing is completed. after which rinse and sterile rinse are applied, through separate transfer manifolds, and a hot air blast dries the tank. Before washing it is preferable that a pre-rinse be effected, utilizing a separate transfer manifold and pipe but operating in the same manner as previously described and utilizing the common rinse sump.

The apparatus described allows the transfer of liquid from the header through the transfer manifold to the connector and thence through the couplings to the container through valves thereof without excessive leakage or pressure loss and at a pressure sufficient to clear the valves, which may be pressure-responsive. No effort is made to turn off the liquid flowing through the header while the container and accompanying apparatus parts are advancing to the next position so the liquid is continually sprayed through the sealing means or plate openings, as well as through other nozzles. This helps to lubricate the plastic (polytetrafluoroethylene) and makes it of even greater friction-free characteristics. Also, additional surfaces of the tank exterior are contacted as they move through the sprays.

Movements of the holder-container units to the next station and succeeding stations are effected by having hydraulically actuated advancing means, not shown, intermittently advance a continuous chain, not illustrated, which moves about a pair of sprockets, not shown, held the length of the washing apparatus apart, from feeding end to mid-point in the washing cycle, with the feed and discharge being located at the same end of the washing apparatus, as is illustrated in FIG. 5. The intermittent forward motion of the chain and the holder-container units is regulated and the pre-rinse, wash, rinse, sterile rinse and drying stations are chosen so as to obtain the best washing of the particular containers being put through the machine. Thus, for example, in a 40-station machine, there may be a loading station, a coupler lifting station, three pre-rinse stations, two dead stations (for draining), ten wash stations, a

drain station, two blank or dead stations (on the turn), four pump rinse stations, a drain station, five sterile rinse stations, a drain station, four hot air drying sta' tions, wherein hot air is blown onto the container and into the central opening at the bottom thereof, a blank station, an automatic discharge station, an alarmmanual discharge station, operative if the automatic discharge fails, which shuts the conveyor down, a dead end station and a coupling-depressing station before feed-in. The loading and discharge stations, at which the containers are inserted into the machine and re moved therefrom, will be described later in conjunction with FIG. 5. During the balance of the run except for the dead end station between discharge and loading, and the coupling-depressing station, the transfer manifolds will be held fairly tightly in place by the mounting means therefor, with only moderate tilting being possible, because several containers and accom panying attachments will be bearing down on the transfer manifold simultaneously, averaging out some tilting forces. The connector boxes can tilt somewhat, although they are held substantially in place by pivot means, which will be described with respect to FIG-4, and by holding means or yoke 19 pressing the container, couplings, etc., down on them and forcing them against the transfer manifold.

In FIG. 2 the carrier mechanism is illustrated with the vertical supporting angles, yoke, yoke mounting spacers and base plate removed, so as to expose the connector box, couplings and mounting means for the base plate. Connector box 29 has couplings 13 and attached to it, which couplings are inwardly tapered on upwardly facing surfaces 57 and 58, for directing the container valves into aligned position therein, and have internal ledges 59 and 60 and depressed surfaces 61 and 62 having spray holes 63 and 64 therein. Pins 66 and 68 open the container valves they abut.

As will be seen from FIG. 3, there is a clearance between the container valve cnd part and the surrounding internal bore of the coupling, which allows some liquid to contact the outside of the valve, while most of it passes through the valve interior. Thus, the contact between valve and coupling is sufficiently tight so as to have the pin move so as to open the valve but allows some escape of liquid to the outside of the valve. In FIG. 2 numeral 65 designates the inlet opening to the connector box through which liquid passes from the transfer manifold. Angles 67, 69, 71 and 73 are for supporting the base plate, which in turn supports the yoke adapted to hold the container in place. Springs, not shown in FIG. 2, hold the forward portions of the angles and the base plate attached to it downwardly against the sealing means on the transfer manifold or against similar plastic plates or blocks on connecting sections of the path followed by the connector boxes. As shown, the forward portions of the angles and base plate are pivoted on pin 75. Holding means 77 is provided to fasten the angles and the other parts attached to them to the hydraulically intermittently advanced chain through angle 79.

In FIG. 3 is shown a partial sectional elevation of the present'apparatus with the holding yoke not illustrated. Most of the parts of this view are shown and discussed with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, except for the detailed structure of the container valve, the coupling, its attachment to the connector box, the sealing means, the secondary plastic spacing and supporting means between the connector box and the transfer manifold and the joinder of such plastic parts to the transfer manifold. Also, container filling and drain opening 81, closed by cover 83, which seals more tightly when under internal pressure, is shown in FIG. 3. Connector box 29 has an opening 87 therein having an internally threaded flange 89 welded thereon with a pipe extending beyond the flange, onto which pipe is fitted a rubber hose 97, clamped thereon by clamping means 99. At the other end of the hose coupling head 101 is held to it by clamp 103. Passageway' 105 carries liquid from the connector box through holes 64 in the base portion 62 of the coupling. Valve end 107 abuts or almost abuts coupling deck and internal valve mechanism 109 is moved inwardly, allowing liquid to flow through the valve.

As illustrated, the valve opens into a dip tube or standpipe 111 which extends to the normal bottom of the container, so that gas pressure applied to the other valve, which is similarly joined to the liquid supply means, in normal dispensing operation, forces liquid syrup out valve means 109, when cover 83 is closed.

As is shown, the coupling members extend through openings 86 and 88 in base plate 85. Under the base plate the connector manifold is pressed against sealing means 41 which contains transversely extending pressure release grooves or channels 43 and 45 and opening 96, which matches with larger opening 98 in the connector box and an opening in the transfer manifold, of approximately the same size. Screws 113 and 115 hold the sealing plate onto the transfer manifold. Secondary spacing and supporting plates, also of the same plastic material, are shown at 117 and 119 with screws fastening them to the transfer manifold. It will be noted that these plates are so positioned that they extend to very short distances, usually from one-eighth to one-half inch, preferably about one-quarter inch, from the ends of the connector boxes, so that the boxes and attached mechanisms, including the container, will be maintained in position while being transferred to de sired position over the next sealing means. However, it is usually desirable that the connector box should not touch the secondary spacing and supporting means during times the box is at station and when liquid is being passed through it. It will be noted that the height of the secondary support is essentially the same as that of the sealing means and both are attached to the transfer manifold. See bevels 102, 104 and 106 at the leading edges of the plastic plates, to facilitate movements of the connector box over the plastic without scuffings or tearings of the plastic by the box leading edge.

FIG. 4 illustrates the container 11 with a valve end portion thereof 107 in coupling member 13 attached to connector box 29, which is fastened via sealing means 41 to transfer manifold 35, which is further connected with a liquid supply under pressure. Pivot lever 121 exerts a downward force on the connector box, helping to fasten it tightly against the sealing means and the transfer manifold and also aiding to depress it when the container is to be discharged from or fed into the washing mechanism. When so depressed, with no transfer manifold or other blocking means below the connector box, the coupling members are depressed below the surface of base plate 85 and the container can be charged or discharged without striking the couplings.

In FIG. 5 the entire washing apparatus is illustrated, including an inverting and orienting device 123, a loading station 125, a dead station 127, after loading, a prerinse section 129, wash section 131, rinse section 133 and sterile rinse section 135, followed by air drying section 137. Such sections have dead spaces between them, and are desirably located for the particular cleaning job encountered. After the container is washed, rinsed and dried it is released and discharged at 139, with a safety dead space at 141, for manual discharge and for setting off an alarm and shutting down the machine if the normal discharge at 139 fails to operate. in charging the cans they will be fed right side up at station 143, where they will be inverted and allowed to drain while being advanced to a turntable at position 145. At this position the bottom of the can (now uppermost) is contacted and pressed downwardly, so that the normal top of the can, (now down) is pressed against the turntable and rotates. Specially designed fingers feel hand-hold openings in the container top (normal) and when the correct opening is detected, the turntable stops and hydraulic ram 147 forces the inverted container onto the supporting plate and into the holding device lined up with the charging position. The couplings are lowered at this point but are raised up as the container moves to the next position, forming a unitary combination of the holder, container, couplings, etc. In a similar manner, at discharge position 139, the couplings are withdrawn and a ram forces the container out of the washing apparatus down curved incline 149 so thatit is set upright, from which position it is either manually or automatically removed. The container, when removed, is dry and sterile, having been sterilized by the sterile rinse water at elevated temperature and having been dried by the dry air circulated in the latter portion of the washing apparatus. The drying air is vented out stack 151. Containers 11 are seen where the machine cover is removed.

The various liquids used are recycled, with the exception that the sterile rinse water is not recycled and is used in part as feed to the rinse water. Also, the rinse water recycle is partly utilized as feed to the wash water, which is normally a proprietary detergent solution, such as a 2 to percent, preferably a 3 percent sodium hydroxide solution. Sterilization will normally be effected at about 170-l90F., e.g., at 180F. and washing will be effected at about 140to 190F., e.g., at 180F. Rinsing may be at room temperature but will preferably be with heated water, e.g., at l40l90F. The drying gas may be at any suitable temperature, usually in the range of 200to 300F., but will preferably be from 235to 295F.

The washing and rinsing liquids will normally be driven through the system by suitable pumps, preferably of stainless steel or suitable corrosion resistant metal, glass (for pre-rinse and sterile rinse) or plastic, capable of circulating the wash fluid sufficiently to satisfactorily wash the containers. Normally, the pumps should create a pressure of to 200 lbs/sq. in., preferably from 40 to 80 lbs/sq. in., for usual operations.

Various modifications may be made in the described structures so long as the essential functions mentioned are carried out. Thus, in some cases it may be desirable to have the sealing plastic and secondary spacers, if any such secondary spacers are employed, on the connector box, rather than on the transfer manifold. Similarly, differently shaped pressure release grooves or openings may be employed and in some cases these may be omitted entirely, with less desirable results. Normally, at

least one pressure release groove or other such release means is utilized but rarely are more than four such grooves present per seal unit. The shapes ofthe transfer manifolds and connector boxes may be altered, so long as their contact surfaces match with each other and/or with the sealing means. Thus, one contacting surface may be convex and the other may be matching concave. Both may be otherwise curved or at angles or the manifold and box may be essentially rounded, with flat surfaces where they make contact, through the sealing means. Sealing means may be similarly differently shaped and contacting surfaces may be vertical or otherwise non-horizontal. Normally, however, the manifold and box will be parallelepipedal in cross-section, preferably rectangular or square, with flat, horizontal surfaces where they make contact. This is so because it is more difficult to produce a satisfactory curved or angled track for moving the transfer boxes around the end of the machine so as to reverse direction as they proceed toward the discharge area and also because greater sealing forces may be applied if the contact surface is horizontal. The machine may be changed so as to be of straight-through design and such is more desirable with the mentioned differently shaped transfer manifolds and connector boxes. 'Of course, modifications of the coupling design illustrated may also be employed, so long as, in the most preferred embodiments, the couplings surround the container valves and together with the yokes or other holding means, hold them upright and firmly in substantially pressure-tight relationship with the liquid supply.

Instead of virgin polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon is preferred) other plastics may be employed, so long as they can withstand the temperatures and washing media utilized. Generally the halogenated poly-lower alkylenes, such as fluorinated, chlorinated and chlorofluorinated polypropylenes, polyethylenes and ethylene-propylene copolymers, are preferred. These are of sufficiently high molecular weights to make them firm enough to resist excessive wear during use. However, in some washers various other plastics are also successful, including nylons, polyesters (pure or glass filled), phenol formaldehydes, and various other well known structural plastics. The polytetrafluoroethylenes and modifications thereof are preferred because in addition to their capability of withstanding high temperatures and corrosive media, they are inherently of low friction characteristics.

In use, it is a simple matter to deposit the syrup containers in vertically upright position in the feeding machine, with central covers off but with charging and dispensing valves in place. The turnover arms invert the can and move it through the indexing and detecting mechanism so as to orient the valves with respect to the couplings on the connector boxes. From this position it is fed to the washing apparatus while maintaining the orientation. In the washing apparatus the couplings are raised in the dead space after the charge station and then the container passes into the enclosed section of the washing apparatus, where it is subjected to a prerinse, washes, rinses, sterile rinses and drying. During the various liquid applying operations the containers are being continuously drained to respective sumps and the liquids are selectively recycled.'1n the dead spaces between liquid applications such drainings continue, into the sump of that liquid, helping to reduce any contamination" of the next liquid to be used. The apparatus enclosure or wall is of stainless steel sheet but may be tempered glass or may have glass or plastic viewplates therein for observing the cleaning operations. In a very satisfactory operation the time at each working or dead station is 2.7 seconds and the time of movement between the stations is 2.3 seconds. Thus, for a 40-station apparatus a container passesthrough in a little over three minutes. Spacings between stations may be modified but these are preferably from 6 inches to 2 feet, with 12 inches being a preferred spacing from box center to box center for normally tubular containers which have heightzdiameter ratios of about 3:1 to 8:1, normally about :1, and diameters of 6 to inches, normally about 9 inches. Generally, the pumping rates in a washing apparatus such as described, which is about ft. long, 7 ft. high and 6 ft. wide and which washes about 720 figals per hour, are about 150 g.p.m. of wash water and 80 g.p.m. of rinse water, with 10 g.p.m. of that being a pre-rinse. The volume of sterile rinse water is about 8 g.p.m. The cans washed are clean and sterile and contain no syrup.

The invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments thereof but is not to be interpreted as being so limited because it is evident that one of skill in the art, with the present application before him, will be able to utilize substitutes and equivalents without departing from the spirit of the invention or going outside the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for transferring pressurized liquid from a source thereof to the interior of a movable container in a container washing apparatus through an opening in such container which comprises a stationary transfer manifold and a connector box, the transfer manifold communicating with the source of liquid and having an opening therein for passing liquid from it through the connector box to a container being washed, said connector box having an opening therein matchable with and holdable against the opening in the transfer manifold when the container is stationary, and means for communicating the connector box with an opening in the container to force liquid through said opening.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container opening is a normally closed valved opening, the transfer manifold is below the connector box and the container is above said box, sealing means are interposed between the transfer manifold and the connector box, through which sealing means liquid passes into the connector box, and the means for communicating the connector box with the opening in the container so as to force liquid through it to wash and/or rinse it is a coupling adapted to make substantially pressure-tight contact with the container valve.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the container opening is a normally closed pressureresponsive valve opening, the transfer manifold has a plurality of openings therein adapted to match with openings in a plurality of connector boxes, the sealing means is of synthetic organic plastic and is fastened to the top of the transfer manifold, and the coupling adapted to make liquid-tight contact with the container valve extends upwardly from the connector box to a position about the valve and into substantially pressure tight contact with an end of said valve.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 adapted to hold in inverted position an open soft drink syrup container lit) having at least two normally upwardly facing pressureresponsive valves and a central sealable opening which comprises means for preventing falling backward of the container in inverted vertical position, means for fitting with the container and holding it so that the valves thereof press downwardly against at least two couplings fastened to the connector box and thereby press the connector box against the sealing means and the seal ing means against the transfer manifold.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 which is automatically operated and comprises a plurality of holders for holding in inverted position a plurality of soft drink syrup containers with downwardly facing (normally upwardly facing), pressure-responsive valves aligned with and in substantially pressure-tight contact with couplings, one coupling for each valve, two of said couplings being joined to each connector box and said combinations of container (including valves), coupling and connector box being sequentially movable from sealing engagement with a liquid passing opening in the transfer manifold to sealing engagement with other such openings in other such manifolds containing different liquids so that the different liquids may be sequentially passed through the valves of the container for the washing and/or rinsing thereof.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the sealing means are polytetrafluoroethylene members fastened to the top surfaces of the transfer manifolds.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene sealing means have at least one pressure release surface passage per sealing means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene sealing means have two grooves per means, one being on each side of the openings in the transfer manifolds and matched connector boxes for the passage of liquids from the transfer manifolds to the connector box through the couplings and pressure responsive valves into the syrup containers.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein on the top of the transfer manifold, between the sealing means, are located other or secondary polytetrafluoroethylene plates of about the same thickness as the sealing means, to maintain the containers, holders, couplings and connector boxes upright during movement along the transfer manifold to a subsequent station or position wherein the inlet opening to the connector box is aligned with the outlet opening from the transfer manifold.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the couplings are internally conically shaped so as to be essentially self-centering over the syrup container valves, the ends of the valves abut the couplings interiors with clearances left between the valves and the couplings interiors which are small enough so as to maintain substantially pressure-tight contact while allowing some release of liquid to contact the outsides of the valves, and the secondary polytetrafluoroethylene plates are beveled at leading edges thereof so as to facilitate forward movements of the connector boxes thereover.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the holders, couplings and connector boxes are intermittently advanced as units through the washing apparatus and have supplies of prerinsing liquid, washing liquid, rinsing liquid and sterile rinsing liquid injected into the containers through different transfer manifolds and through the connector boxes and couplings into the intermittently moving containers when they are in stationary positions.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein prerinse, wash, rinse and sterile rinse liquids are sprayed downwardly and upwardly onto the exteriors of the container surfaces through spray nozzles on headers in separate sections of the washing apparatus in which such liquids are also directed into the interiors of the containers through the valves thereof, and the prerinse, wash and rinse liquids draining from the containers and from the inside of the apparatus are separately collected and are recycled through the nozzles and the different transfer manifolds.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein couplings and their connector boxes are lowered for the automatic oriented emplacement of inverted containers in position before they enter the liquid contact portions of the washing apparatus and are similarly depressed for the automatic discharge of the containers from the apparatus after washing, rinsing and drying thereof.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the inverted containers have their valves automatically oriented with respect to the couplings by being spun on a turntable in inverted position until a unique handhold opening thereon is aligned, after which they are automatically fed into open holders when the couplings associated therewith are depressed to provide clearance for insertion of an inverted container into a holder, after which the couplings and associated connector box are raised into coupling contact with the valves and the connector box inlet opening is aligned with an opening in the transfer manifold.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the means for advancing the holders and the connected connector boxes and coupling members is a continuous chain mounted on sprockets and intermittently driven forward by a hydraulic actuator so that the containers intermittently spend about I to seconds moving and about 1 to 5 seconds idle, with greater idle time at each station than moving time between stations, and the advancing means moves the holders, connector boxes and coupling members in an endless path having two straight sides and curved connecting ends.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising polytetrafluoroethylene sealing means interposed between the transfer manifold and the connector box, through which sealing means liquid passes into the connector box from the transfer manifold.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is interposed between the transfer manifold and the connector box synthetic organic plastic sealing means having at least one pressure release surface passage thereon, through which sealing means liquid passes into the connector box from the transfer manifold, the means for communicating the connector box with an opening in the container to force liquid through said opening is a coupling adapted to make substantially pressure tight contact with the container valve, which coupling is internally conically shaped to be essentially self-centering over the opening in the container, which opening is in a pressure-responsive valve on the container, the end of the valve abuts the coupling interior with a clearance left between the valve and the interior small enough so as to maintain substantially pressuretight contact so as to open the valve to pressurized liquid while allowing some release of liquid so that it contacts the outside of the valve. and there are present secondary synthetic organic plastic plates on both sides of the sealing members on the transfer box to maintain the container, coupling and connector box upright as 5 it is moved along the transfer manifold to a subsequent station or position,

18. An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes a holder for the container, holding it to coupling means for communicating the connector box with an opening in the container, and to the connector box, and in which the holder, coupling and connector box are intermittently advanced as a unit through the washing apparatus, into communication, while stationary, with different positions on the same transfer manifold and on another transfer manifold, through which manifolds washing and rinsing liquids are injected into the container.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connector box and the means for communicating it with the opening in the container are lowered for oriented emplacement of an inverted container in position, after which they are raised so that the opening in the connector box is matched with the opening in the transfer manifold, after which the container is passed to a liquid contact portion of the'washing apparatus.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container is inverted, the opening therein is oriented with respect to the communicating means by being spun on a turntable in inverted position until a unique handhold opening thereon is aligned, after which it is automatically fed into a holder, with the communicating means being depressed below the container opening to provide clearance for insertion of the inverted container into the holder, after which the communicating means and associated connector box are raised into coupling contact with the opening in the container and the opening in the connector box is aligned with an opening in the transfer manifold.

21. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein holding means for the container are provided and such means are advanced in the washing apparatus, together with connected connector boxes and communicating means by an advancing means which includes a continuous chain mounted on sprockets and intermittently driven forward to a plurality of stations by a hydraulic actuator so that the container spends about I to 5 seconds moving and about 1 to 5 seconds idle at each station, with greater idle time at each station than moving time between stations, and the advancing means moves the holders, connector boxes and communicating means in an endless path having two straight sides and curved connecting ends.

22. An apparatus for transferring pressurized washing and rinsing liquids from sources thereof through pressure-responsive valves openable by application of external pressure thereto, of an essentially tubular soft drink syrup container, which valves and a sealable opening are located at the top of the container, which comprises a stationary transfer manifold, connector box and couplings on the connector box adapted to fit the valves of an inverted container, the transfer manifold communicating with a source of pressurized washing liquid and having an opening therein for passing liquid from it through the connector box, the coupling and the valves into a container being washed, thereby washing the valves interiors, the connector box having an opening therein matchable with and holdable against the opening in the transfer manifold when the container is stationary, and means for advancing the container, in inverted position, together with the couplings and connector box into orientation and communication with other openings in the transfer manifold and with other openings in other transfer manifolds, so as to subject the valves and the container to wash water and rinse water from such manifolds and thereby to effect washing of the valves and the container interior.

23. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connector box is tiltable about a horizontal longitudinal .axis and the transfer manifold is tiltable about its horizontal longitudinal axis so that their surfaces contacting each other directly or indirectly can better match and make liquid-tight joinder.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the connector box is pivot mounted and the transfer manifold is pin-mounted at its extremities.

25. An apparatus according to claim wherein both the connector boxes and the transfer manifolds are slightly tiltable, when the apparatus is in washing operation, so that their surfaces better match and make more liquidtight joinder or communication.

26. An apparatus according to claim wherein both the connector boxes and transfer manifolds are slightly tiltable about longitudinal axes, the connector boxes are mounted on pivots and the transfer manifolds are pin-mounted at their extremities.

27. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for communicating the connector box with the opening in the container includes means for pressing against a closure of that opening and thereby opening 28. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the container valve includes a pressure-responsive end sur face member which is movable inwardly into the valve to open the valve passageway and the coupling includes a member for abutting against and opening the valve by means of forcing the pressure-responsive end member inwardly. r

29. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the valve end member is flat where contacted by the cou pling abutting member and the abutting member is an axially located pin inside the coupling member, centrally located between liquid passageways through the coupling. 

1. An apparatus for transferring pressurized liquid from a source thereof to the interior of a movable container in a container washing apparatus through an opening in such container which comprises a stationary transfer manifold and a connector box, the transfer manifold communicating with the source of liquid and having an opening therein for passing liquid from it through the connector box to a container being washed, said connector box having an opening therein matchable with and holdable against the opening in the transfer manifold when the containeR is stationary, and means for communicating the connector box with an opening in the container to force liquid through said opening.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container opening is a normally closed valved opening, the transfer manifold is below the connector box and the container is above said box, sealing means are interposed between the transfer manifold and the connector box, through which sealing means liquid passes into the connector box, and the means for communicating the connector box with the opening in the container so as to force liquid through it to wash and/or rinse it is a coupling adapted to make substantially pressure-tight contact with the container valve.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the container opening is a normally closed pressure-responsive valve opening, the transfer manifold has a plurality of openings therein adapted to match with openings in a plurality of connector boxes, the sealing means is of synthetic organic plastic and is fastened to the top of the transfer manifold, and the coupling adapted to make liquid-tight contact with the container valve extends upwardly from the connector box to a position about the valve and into substantially pressure-tight contact with an end of said valve.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 adapted to hold in inverted position an open soft drink syrup container having at least two normally upwardly facing pressure-responsive valves and a central sealable opening which comprises means for preventing falling backward of the container in inverted vertical position, means for fitting with the container and holding it so that the valves thereof press downwardly against at least two couplings fastened to the connector box and thereby press the connector box against the sealing means and the sealing means against the transfer manifold.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 which is automatically operated and comprises a plurality of holders for holding in inverted position a plurality of soft drink syrup containers with downwardly facing (normally upwardly facing), pressure-responsive valves aligned with and in substantially pressure-tight contact with couplings, one coupling for each valve, two of said couplings being joined to each connector box and said combinations of container (including valves), coupling and connector box being sequentially movable from sealing engagement with a liquid passing opening in the transfer manifold to sealing engagement with other such openings in other such manifolds containing different liquids so that the different liquids may be sequentially passed through the valves of the container for the washing and/or rinsing thereof.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the sealing means are polytetrafluoroethylene members fastened to the top surfaces of the transfer manifolds.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene sealing means have at least one pressure release surface passage per sealing means.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene sealing means have two grooves per means, one being on each side of the openings in the transfer manifolds and matched connector boxes for the passage of liquids from the transfer manifolds to the connector box through the couplings and pressure responsive valves into the syrup containers.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein on the top of the transfer manifold, between the sealing means, are located other or secondary polytetrafluoroethylene plates of about the same thickness as the sealing means, to maintain the containers, holders, couplings and connector boxes upright during movement along the transfer manifold to a subsequent station or position wherein the inlet opening to the connector box is aligned with the outlet opening from the transfer manifold.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the couplings are internally conically shaped so as to be essentially self-centering over the syrup container Valves, the ends of the valves abut the couplings'' interiors with clearances left between the valves and the couplings'' interiors which are small enough so as to maintain substantially pressure-tight contact while allowing some release of liquid to contact the outsides of the valves, and the secondary polytetrafluoroethylene plates are beveled at leading edges thereof so as to facilitate forward movements of the connector boxes thereover.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the holders, couplings and connector boxes are intermittently advanced as units through the washing apparatus and have supplies of prerinsing liquid, washing liquid, rinsing liquid and sterile rinsing liquid injected into the containers through different transfer manifolds and through the connector boxes and couplings into the intermittently moving containers when they are in stationary positions.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein prerinse, wash, rinse and sterile rinse liquids are sprayed downwardly and upwardly onto the exteriors of the container surfaces through spray nozzles on headers in separate sections of the washing apparatus in which such liquids are also directed into the interiors of the containers through the valves thereof, and the pre-rinse, wash and rinse liquids draining from the containers and from the inside of the apparatus are separately collected and are recycled through the nozzles and the different transfer manifolds.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein couplings and their connector boxes are lowered for the automatic oriented emplacement of inverted containers in position before they enter the liquid contact portions of the washing apparatus and are similarly depressed for the automatic discharge of the containers from the apparatus after washing, rinsing and drying thereof.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the inverted containers have their valves automatically oriented with respect to the couplings by being spun on a turntable in inverted position until a unique handhold opening thereon is aligned, after which they are automatically fed into open holders when the couplings associated therewith are depressed to provide clearance for insertion of an inverted container into a holder, after which the couplings and associated connector box are raised into coupling contact with the valves and the connector box inlet opening is aligned with an opening in the transfer manifold.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the means for advancing the holders and the connected connector boxes and coupling members is a continuous chain mounted on sprockets and intermittently driven forward by a hydraulic actuator so that the containers intermittently spend about 1 to 5 seconds moving and about 1 to 5 seconds idle, with greater idle time at each station than moving time between stations, and the advancing means moves the holders, connector boxes and coupling members in an endless path having two straight sides and curved connecting ends.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising polytetrafluoroethylene sealing means interposed between the transfer manifold and the connector box, through which sealing means liquid passes into the connector box from the transfer manifold.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is interposed between the transfer manifold and the connector box synthetic organic plastic sealing means having at least one pressure release surface passage thereon, through which sealing means liquid passes into the connector box from the transfer manifold, the means for communicating the connector box with an opening in the container to force liquid through said opening is a coupling adapted to make substantially pressure tight contact with the container valve, which coupling is internally conically shaped to be essentially self-centering over the opening in the container, which opening is in a pressure-responsive valve on the container, the end of the valve abuts the coupling interior with a clearance left between the valve and the interior small enough so as to maintain substantially pressure-tight contact so as to open the valve to pressurized liquid while allowing some release of liquid so that it contacts the outside of the valve, and there are present secondary synthetic organic plastic plates on both sides of the sealing members on the transfer box to maintain the container, coupling and connector box upright as it is moved along the transfer manifold to a subsequent station or position.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes a holder for the container, holding it to coupling means for communicating the connector box with an opening in the container, and to the connector box, and in which the holder, coupling and connector box are intermittently advanced as a unit through the washing apparatus, into communication, while stationary, with different positions on the same transfer manifold and on another transfer manifold, through which manifolds washing and rinsing liquids are injected into the container.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connector box and the means for communicating it with the opening in the container are lowered for oriented emplacement of an inverted container in position, after which they are raised so that the opening in the connector box is matched with the opening in the transfer manifold, after which the container is passed to a liquid contact portion of the washing apparatus.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container is inverted, the opening therein is oriented with respect to the communicating means by being spun on a turntable in inverted position until a unique handhold opening thereon is aligned, after which it is automatically fed into a holder, with the communicating means being depressed below the container opening to provide clearance for insertion of the inverted container into the holder, after which the communicating means and associated connector box are raised into coupling contact with the opening in the container and the opening in the connector box is aligned with an opening in the transfer manifold.
 21. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein holding means for the container are provided and such means are advanced in the washing apparatus, together with connected connector boxes and communicating means by an advancing means which includes a continuous chain mounted on sprockets and intermittently driven forward to a plurality of stations by a hydraulic actuator so that the container spends about 1 to 5 seconds moving and about 1 to 5 seconds idle at each station, with greater idle time at each station than moving time between stations, and the advancing means moves the holders, connector boxes and communicating means in an endless path having two straight sides and curved connecting ends.
 22. An apparatus for transferring pressurized washing and rinsing liquids from sources thereof through pressure-responsive valves openable by application of external pressure thereto, of an essentially tubular soft drink syrup container, which valves and a sealable opening are located at the top of the container, which comprises a stationary transfer manifold, connector box and couplings on the connector box adapted to fit the valves of an inverted container, the transfer manifold communicating with a source of pressurized washing liquid and having an opening therein for passing liquid from it through the connector box, the coupling and the valves into a container being washed, thereby washing the valves'' interiors, the connector box having an opening therein matchable with and holdable against the opening in the transfer manifold when the container is stationary, and means for advancing the container, in inverted position, together with the couplings and connector box into orientation and communication with other openings in the transfer manifold and with other openings in other transfer manifolds, so as to subjecT the valves and the container to wash water and rinse water from such manifolds and thereby to effect washing of the valves and the container interior.
 23. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connector box is tiltable about a horizontal longitudinal axis and the transfer manifold is tiltable about its horizontal longitudinal axis so that their surfaces contacting each other directly or indirectly can better match and make liquid-tight joinder.
 24. An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the connector box is pivot mounted and the transfer manifold is pin-mounted at its extremities.
 25. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein both the connector boxes and the transfer manifolds are slightly tiltable, when the apparatus is in washing operation, so that their surfaces better match and make more liquidtight joinder or communication.
 26. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein both the connector boxes and transfer manifolds are slightly tiltable about longitudinal axes, the connector boxes are mounted on pivots and the transfer manifolds are pin-mounted at their extremities.
 27. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for communicating the connector box with the opening in the container includes means for pressing against a closure of that opening and thereby opening it.
 28. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the container valve includes a pressure-responsive end surface member which is movable inwardly into the valve to open the valve passageway and the coupling includes a member for abutting against and opening the valve by means of forcing the pressure-responsive end member inwardly.
 29. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the valve end member is flat where contacted by the coupling abutting member and the abutting member is an axially located pin inside the coupling member, centrally located between liquid passageways through the coupling. 